Conveyer chain



' Aug. 9, F. P. NFFSINGER El- AL Q CONVEYER CHAIN Filed March 29, 1937 Patented ug. 9, 1938 UNITED STATES Parent ermee CONVEYER;` CHAIN' Fred` P. Noffsinger and Robert Noffsinger, Greeley, Colo.

YApplication March 29,

7 Claims.

This invention relatesto` a bar conveyer chain which, while more particularly designed as the elevating chain for potato diggers `and the like, will be found useful wherever an open bar conveyer is required.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a bar conveyer construction which will be economical to manufacture and which can be easily and quickly assembled in any desired lengths without the use of tools;

Another object of the invention is to provide a barconveyer construction whichwillf be self locking when assembled; long wearing; and in which worn or broken parts can be quickly andl easily replaced while in the field.

Other objects and advantages reside inthe detail construction of the invention, which isdesigned for simplicity, economy, and efficiency. These will becomey more apparent fromV the follow ing description.

VIn the following detailed description of the invention: reference ishadtothe accompanying drawing which forms a part hereof. Like numerals refer to like parts in all views of the drawing and throughout the description.

In the drawing:-

Fig. 1 illustrates a bar as employed in the invention.

Fig. 2 is a plan View of a portion of the assembled conveyer.

Fig. 3 is a perspective View of a conveyer link.

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of a section of the conveyer illustrating the method of assembling the same.

The invention comprises two series of links, such as illustrated in Fig. 3. These links each comprise a main link portion IIJ carrying at one extremity a single centrally positioned bar loop II, and at its other extremity a pair of similar spaced-apart bar loops I2.

At the center portion of the link, between the bar loops I2, is a sprocket notch I3, containing a sprocket bearing face I4.

The links are used in conjunction with a series of conveyer bars I5. The bars I5 may have any desired length, depending upon the width required for the complete conveyer.

The bars are oiTset,v as shown at I6, adjacent each of their extremities and terminate in bearing ends I'I which are in axial alignment with the main portion of the bar. It is preferred to employ straight, round rods for the bar I5 to form the oiTset I6 by heating the extremities of the bars and deforming them in a punch press, thus insuring that all of the offsets will be uniform.

193.7, sel-in No. 133,489"

The widthv of the notch in the offset It is sub= stantially equal to the width of the bearing loop I I` of the links, and the over-all width oi the offset is substantially equal to the spacing between the two bar loops I2 of the links.

To' assemble the chain, the offsets of one of the bars I5lis slipped into the barloops il of a pair of links. A second pair of links is then turned upwardly, as-shown at the right of Fig. 4, with their hooks t2 engaging each side of the offsetsy and are then turned downwardly into alignment with` the first links. This is continued throughout the line of thev links.

When the chain is completed the links are selflocking. The hooks II cannot unhook since the shoulders on the portion It strike the hooks lf2 of the adjacent link, and similarly the hooks I2' cannot unhook since they strike the shoulders of the next link. Therefore; after the chain is` once assembled, it is securely and permanently locked. However, should' it be desired to remove a link or a bar, it can-be clone by turning the link at right angles to the bar and slipping the hooks from the bars; v

The teeth notches I3 of the links and bear between the loop II of one link and the bearing surface M of the adjacent link. There are no bearing surfaces between the links themselves and all wear is confined to the bars I5 which can be easily replaced when necessary.

The links may be formed by drop forging or may be cast from malleable iron or steel.

While a specific form of the improvement has been described and illustrated herein, it is desired to be understood that the same may be varied, within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed and desired secured by Letters Patent isz- 1. A conveyer chain consisting of a series of bifurcated links, the furcations at each side of the bifurcation being turned back upon themselves to form a pair of hooked extremities; a single bar loop at the opposite side of said link in alignment with the bifurcation therein; and an offset bar extending through the hooked extremity of one link, thence extending longitudinally of said chain between the latter hooked extremity and the bar loop of an adjacent link, thence extending laterally of said chain through lthe latter bar loop, thence returning longitudinally of said chain between said latter bar of sprockets enter the sprocket loop and the other hooked extremity, thence passing through said latter extremity to connect the adjacent links together with said bar separating the hooked extremities from the bar loops thereof.

2. A conveyer chain consisting of a series of bifurcated links, the furcations at each side of the lbifurcation being turned back upon themselves to form a pair of hooked extremities; a single bar loop at the opposite side of said link in alignment with the bifurcation therein; and an offset bar extending through the hooked extremity of one link, thence extending longitudinally of said chain between the latter hooked extremity and the bar loop of an adjacent link, thence extending laterally of said chain through the latter bar loop, thence returning longitudinally of said chain between said latter bar loop and the other hooked extremity, thence passing through said latter extremity to connect the adjacent links together with said bar separatingv the hooked extremities from the bar loops thereof, the bifurcations in said links extending inwardly therein beyond the position of said bars to form openings through the links for the reception of sprocket teeth.

3. A bar conveyer comprising a series of round parallel bars; an offset formed in each bar adjacent each extremity thereof; a series of links; a single bar loop on one side of each link; double bar hooks on the other side of each link, said single bar loops being engaged in the offset portions and said double bar loops engaging said bars at each side of said offset; and shoulders formed on said links to prevent the adjacent links from unhooking, all of said loops having an open side, opening in the direction of the plane of said link there being an opening through each of said links for the reception of sprocket teeth.

4. A bar conveyer comprising a series of parallel bars; an oifset formed in each bar adjacent each extremity thereof; a series of links; a single bar loop on one side of each link; double bar hooks on the other side of each link, said single bar loops being engaged in the offset portions and said double bar loops engaging said bars at each side of said offset; and shoulders formed on said links to prevent the adjacent links from unhooking, all of said loops having an open side, opening in the direction of the plane of said link, so that when said links are turned to a position substantially at right angles with each other said loops may lbe slid from engagement with said bar and with said shoulders.

5. A link for bar conveyers comprising a relatively at body portion; a bar loop extending from the mid-portion of one side of said body portion; and a pair of bar loops extending from the other side of said body portion, said links being bifurcated between said pair of bar loops to form a sprocket tooth notch in said body portion.

6. A link for Ibar conveyers comprising a relatively flat body portion; a bar loop extending from the midportion of one side of said body portion; and a pair of bar loops extending from the other side of said body portion, said pair being spaced-apart a distance suilicient to allow an offset bar to pass longitudinally between the pair of bar loops and the rst bar loop and on each side of the latter.

7. A bar conveyer comprising: a series of round parallel bars; a rectangular offset formed in each bar adjacent each extremity thereof, said oifset consisting of a short section of said bar forced to one side of the main section and connected with the main section by short lateral bends; a series of links; a single bar loop on one extremity of each link; a pair of spaced-apart bar loops on the other extremity of each link, said single bar loops being engaged in the offset portions of said bars; and said pair of bar loops engaging the main portions of said bars at each side of said offset so that said bent portions will separate the single bar loops from the pair of bar loops.

FRED P. NOFFSINGER.

ROBERT W. NOFFSINGER. 

